Ann Liu1, Sutyajeet I Soneja2, Chengsheng Jiang2, Chanjuan Huang2, Timothy Kerns3, Kenneth Beck4, Clifford Mitchell1, Amir Sapkota5. 1. Environmental Health Bureau, Prevention and Health Promotion Administration, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Baltimore, MD, United States. 2. Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD, United States. 3. National Study Center for Trauma and EMS, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, United States. 4. Behavioral and Community Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD, United States. 5. Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD, United States. Electronic address: amirsap@umd.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown increased precipitation to be associated with higher frequency of traffic collisions. However, data regarding how extreme weather events, projected to grow in frequency, intensity, and duration in response to a changing climate, might affect the risk of motor vehicle collisions is particularly limited. We investigated the association between frequency of extreme heat and precipitation events and risk of motor vehicle collision in Maryland between 2000 and 2012. METHODS: Motor vehicle collision data was obtained from the Maryland Automated Accident Reporting System. Each observation in the data set corresponded to a unique collision event. This data was linked to extreme heat and precipitation events that were calculated using location and calendar day specific thresholds. A time-stratified case-crossover analysis was utilized to assess the association between exposure to extreme heat and precipitation events and risk of motor vehicle collision. Additional stratified analyses examined risk by road condition, season, and collisions involving only one vehicle. RESULTS: Overall, there were over 1.28 million motor vehicle collisions recorded in Maryland between 2000 and 2012, of which 461,009 involved injuries or death. There was a 23% increase in risk of collision for every 1-day increase in extreme precipitation event (Odds Ratios (OR) 1.23, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.22, 1.27). This risk was considerably higher for collisions on roads with a defect or obstruction (OR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.40, 1.52) and those involving a single vehicle (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.39, 1.43). Change in risk associated with extreme heat events was marginal at best. CONCLUSION: Extreme precipitation events are associated with an increased risk of motor vehicle collisions in Maryland.
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown increased precipitation to be associated with higher frequency of traffic collisions. However, data regarding how extreme weather events, projected to grow in frequency, intensity, and duration in response to a changing climate, might affect the risk of motor vehicle collisions is particularly limited. We investigated the association between frequency of extreme heat and precipitation events and risk of motor vehicle collision in Maryland between 2000 and 2012. METHODS: Motor vehicle collision data was obtained from the Maryland Automated Accident Reporting System. Each observation in the data set corresponded to a unique collision event. This data was linked to extreme heat and precipitation events that were calculated using location and calendar day specific thresholds. A time-stratified case-crossover analysis was utilized to assess the association between exposure to extreme heat and precipitation events and risk of motor vehicle collision. Additional stratified analyses examined risk by road condition, season, and collisions involving only one vehicle. RESULTS: Overall, there were over 1.28 million motor vehicle collisions recorded in Maryland between 2000 and 2012, of which 461,009 involved injuries or death. There was a 23% increase in risk of collision for every 1-day increase in extreme precipitation event (Odds Ratios (OR) 1.23, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.22, 1.27). This risk was considerably higher for collisions on roads with a defect or obstruction (OR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.40, 1.52) and those involving a single vehicle (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.39, 1.43). Change in risk associated with extreme heat events was marginal at best. CONCLUSION: Extreme precipitation events are associated with an increased risk of motor vehicle collisions in Maryland.
Authors: Frederik Greve; Karl-Georg Kanz; Michael Zyskowski; Francesca von Matthey; Peter Biberthaler; Stefan Muthers; Andreas Matzarakis; Rolf Lefering; Stefan Huber-Wagner Journal: BMC Musculoskelet Disord Date: 2020-08-21 Impact factor: 2.362
Authors: Rennie X Qin; Lotta Velin; Elizabeth F Yates; Omnia El Omrani; Elizabeth McLeod; Jemesa Tudravu; Lubna Samad; Alistair Woodward; Craig D McClain Journal: Lancet Reg Health West Pac Date: 2022-02-23
Authors: Mohammad Javad Zare Sakhvidi; Jun Yang; Danial Mohammadi; Hussein FallahZadeh; Amirhooshang Mehrparvar; Mark Stevenson; Xavier Basagaña; Antonio Gasparrini; Payam Dadvand Journal: Environ Sci Pollut Res Int Date: 2022-06-06 Impact factor: 5.190
Authors: Xuemei Su; Yibin Cheng; Yu Wang; Yue Liu; Na Li; Yonghong Li; Xiaoyuan Yao Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-12-26 Impact factor: 3.390